ZA'ATAR FLAT BREAD

​Za'atar bread is a flat bread that is topped with a mix of zaatar spice blend in olive oil. It is made in most parts of the Middle East. Due to the country/regional variations, the bread is either cooked over a merkook/saj/sag pan or baked like a pizza, can be made big or small in size. Whichever way you prepare it, it will still be just as fragrant and always works a treat!​INGREDIENTS:

3 cups All purpose plain Flour ( 500g)

1 cup (about 250ml) water - lukewarm

½ tsp salt

3 tbsp olive oil

1 tbs yeast (7g)

½tsp sugar

1 egg (optional: if you add egg, reduce the water a little bit)

FOR THE TOPPING:

½ cup Zaatar spice blend (50g)

½ cup olive oil (120mls)

1 tbs Sumaq (optional if you want a tangy kick)

HOW TO COOK MNA'EESH BI ZA'ATAR

METHOD

PREPARING THE DOUGH, ASSEMBLING AND COOKING THE ZA'ATAR BREAD (BAKED IN OVEN)

PREPARING THE DOUGH

Proof the yeast.: Put the yeast in the 1 cup of lukewarm water, add ½ tsp of sugar and mix. Leave to activate for 15 minutes until frothy at the top (about 15 minutes).Keep aside.

Meanwhile, put the flour in a mixing bowl and mix with the salt.

Add the olive oil and and rub in until you get a crumbly texture.

Make a well in the center and add the egg (if using) and the activated yeast liquid at once.

Gradually bring the mixture together and mix until the dough pulls together.

Knead for about 8 minutes until you have a soft dough that is pliable and not sticky. Cover the dough and set aside to proof for about 1 hr or until it has doubled in size.

After the proofing, knock the dough back and divide into 6 small equal balls (You can divide into more balls if you like the bread smaller in size, or less balls if you like your bread bigger in size). Put the balls on a plate (each separately) and immediately start assembling the bread to be baked.

PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 200°C.IN A BOWL, MIX THE ZA'ATAR SPICE MIX WITH THE OLIVE OIL (AND SUMAQ, IF USING)

ASSEMBLING AND COOKING THE ZA'ATAR BREAD.

Take each ball and put on a lightly floured surface. Pat flat with your hand then using a rolling pin, roll into a 6½ inch (about 17cm diameter) circle. Put the rolled circle base individually in a pizza pan (or as a batch on a baking tray). Do the same for all the other balls.

Scoop about 1½ - 2 tbs of the zaatar/olive oil mixture topping and put on each of the rolled dough.

Use a spoon to spread the spice mix all over the dough leaving about half an inch from the edges of the circle.

Bake in the middle shelf of the pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes until the sides are golden brown.

The Za'atar breads are ready to be served.

More information

1) There are so many variations of this bread depending on the country/region/personal reference. The bread can be made in a bigger or smaller size, the crust can be made thick or thin, the zaatar mix can also be different depending on your country/region.